Parthiv Patel understands the need for KS Bharat to make a statement with the bat, but the former India wicketkeeper is willing to give the Andhra gloveman one more chance after seeing his flawless wicketkeeping in the first two Tests against England. Bharat, who has played seven Tests, is yet to score a half-century, and Dhruv Jurel may be given a chance because of his superior batting abilities.

“Bharat has definitely kept brilliantly in this series so far and in the Australia series as well,” JioCinema expert Patel said in a virtual interaction.

“As far as runs are concerned, yes you want runs from him. There is no doubt over it. You are expected to score runs and that is something which hasn’t come in big numbers.” Parthiv, on the other hand, believes that Bharat and Jurel are the best options available to them right now,

“It’s very difficult what you’re looking at. You want runs from him without a doubt. It’s up to team management. Yes there is instability at this point of time, you cannot deny that. But you got to take chances with whoever you have. I think they are the two best possible wicketkeepers for India to play test at this point of time.” However, Parthiv demonstrated his ability to score runs by scoring 41 and 28 in the first Test in Hyderabad.

Chasing 231 in Hyderabad, India were all out for 202 in the second innings, with Bharat and Ravichandran Ashwin providing a glimmer of hope with their fifty-plus run eighth wicket partnership.

“But if you look at his 41 in Hyderabad Test match in first innings, and in the second innings when everyone got out, he scored along with Ashwin just gave us a glimpse of hope. In Vizag, he (Bharat) failed without a doubt. So it’s a very tricky one whether India stick to Bharat for one more Test or just try out a youngster (Jurel) who’s done well at domestic level…” On the curious case of Ishan Kishan who has opted out citing ‘travel fatigue’, Parthiv said: “It’s entirely up to a player. No one knows what’s happening sitting here.”